The rise of cloud computing gives telecom operators both opportunities and challenges

What is the relationship between telecommunications services and cloud services? is cloud services the http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/9764.html of future telecommunications services > Development direction?

To analyze the relationship between telecommunications services and cloud services, we must first identify the characteristics of the cloud services. IDC's definition of cloud computing is that cloud computing is a burgeoning ICT framework and business model for creating and delivering common services such as applications, platforms, and infrastructure. This definition of cloud computing defines the 3 necessary guidelines for cloud computing:

(1) Cloud computing provides end users with a service that is provided through shared means;

(2) Cloud computing infrastructure needs to be implemented through virtualization and automated monitoring and management by the system;

(3) The end-user will use the cloud computing service through the network under the Internet standard, this network can be the Internet (Internet), or it can be an intranet.

Comparing the above characteristics, we can find that most of the telecommunications services meet these conditions. First, telecommunications services are shared services for end users; second, the architecture of most telecommunications services conforms to the characteristics of virtualization; Finally, telecommunications services are actually services to end users through a network (voice or data network).

Therefore, if we have a broad definition of two features for architecture and network transmission, telecommunication services can also be counted as cloud services in a broad sense. At present, many of the running telecom value-added services, in fact, fully comply with the definition of cloud services. such as China Telecom's business pilot applications, is a typical SaaS service. So we can say that cloud computing is essentially a telecom value-added service that is represented by IT equipment, systems, or software. IDC predicts that in the near future, cloud computing will become a rapid growth point for telecom operators in value-added services.

The "Cloud role" of telecom operators

What is the role of telecom operators in future cloud computing markets and what are the advantages of future cloud computing?

IDC found that in recent years China's public cloud computing operations have evolved from a single government-nurtured way to a more diversified business model. We've seen more companies, especially telecoms operators and telecom value-added services, are moving into the business of public cloud computing. IDC believes that telecom operators are the most development potential of the cloud service provider.

First, telecom operators not only have a strong IT infrastructure (servers, storage, network equipment, etc.), but also have large data centers, and the IT infrastructure of these data centers is not very efficient and not 7*24 hours full load. Telecom operators can package the computing resources of these data centers into cloud computing services for the end users. This further development of computing resources will become a new profit point for telecom operators.

Second, telecom operators fully grasp the network access level of resources, which is their relative to other enterprises have a decisive advantage. Since all public cloud computing services need to be implemented via the Internet, all cloud services implementations must be supported by the network of telecommunications operators. Many people liken cloud computing or public computing services to waterworks or power plants, and telecoms operators are the equivalent of all pipelines or cables. Only through these pipes or cables can the end user be able to use water and electricity.

Finally, the billing method for cloud computing services has been a controversial issue. How to realize on-demand billing, to calculate the granularity of the decomposition of computing resources to better measure the user's use, has been a public cloud computing services one of the challenges. and telecom operators to operate the traditional telecom service has been the experience of other enterprises do not have, the cloud services and the current number of value-added services in the combination of telecommunications, will be recognized by many end-users.

The challenges that telecom operators face in the cloud computing market are mainly common problems, such as the lack of user awareness and security. In addition, as the cloud computing market has just started, the current investment in public cloud computing services is not getting immediate revenue. This is also a big challenge for telecom operators with higher profitability requirements.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)